California Crimes A-Z

Every crime in California consists of "elements." These are facts the prosecutor must prove to make a case in court. In this section, we break down each crime into its elements. Then we discuss the best ways to fight the charge, and the penalties that stem from a conviction.

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California Crimes by Code Section

If you got charged with a crime, check the documents for the code section you are accused of violating. Then find our page addressing that code section. We will explain the law, potential penalties, and how best to fight the charge.

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Nevada Crimes A-Z

All crimes in Nevada consist of "elements." An element is a fact that the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt for the defendant to be convicted. In this section, our Nevada criminal defense attorneys discuss the elements of each crime. Then we explain effective ways to defend against the charge, and what penalties a conviction may carry.

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Nevada DUI

Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.

These conditions involve insufficient carbohydrate intake for energy, or -- in the case of diabetes -- insufficient insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. The result in both cases is the body's production of "ketones.”

Ketones are similar in chemical composition to isopropyl alcohol, the type of alcohol found in solvents such as acetone.1 They are different from ethyl alcohol, the type of alcohol in an alcoholic beverage.

1. What are ketones?

Normally, our bodies get energy from carbohydrates in our diet. When we eat foods containing carbohydrates, our digestive system breaks down the digestible ones into sugar. One of these sugar molecules is glucose, the main energy source for our bodies.

Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream after eating. We often refer to this as “blood sugar.”3

When we don't eat enough carbohydrates to produce the blood sugar we need, our bodies have to burn our fat stores instead.4

Fats are broken down in the liver. There, they are turned into ketones and ketoacids, which our bodies can use as alternative fuels.5

2. Low carbohydrate diets and other causes of ketosis

Insufficient carbohydrate intake – and hence the production of ketones – can result from:

high protein / low carbohydrates diets (such as the Paleo or Atkins diet),

“Ketosis” is normal during fasting, after prolonged exercise, and when a high-fat diet is consumed.7

3. Medical conditions that trigger ketones

When the level of glucose in your blood rises, it signals certain cells in the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin helps the liver and muscles store the extra glucose, which lowers the level of glucose in the bloodstream. As blood sugar levels return to normal, so does the secretion of insulin from the pancreas.8

In a person without diabetes, ketone production is the body's normal adaptation to starvation. Blood sugar levels never get too high, because insulin and other hormones keeps the production of ketones in check.9

3.1 Ketoacidosis

In people with diabetes, however, either the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cells are less responsive to it (type 2 diabetes).

The result is that the liver keeps on making more and more ketones. If ketosis is maintained for prolonged periods, the blood can become very acidic. This is a life-threatening disorder known as diabetic ketoacidosis.10

3.2 Hypoglycemia

People with Type 1 diabetes take insulin or other drugs designed to lower blood sugar levels. If they take too much insulin relative to the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, however, blood sugar can drop too low, resulting in hypoglycemia.11

Your body needs a steady supply of sugar (glucose) in order to function properly. If glucose levels become too low, as occurs with hypoglycemia, it can have these effects on your brain:

confusion,

inability to complete routine tasks,

double or blurred vision

heart palpitations

shakiness

anxiety

sweating, and less commonly

seizures or loss of consciousness.

As you can see, the symptoms of hypoglycemia are similar to those of too much alcohol consumption.

Hypoglycemia in people without diabetes is much less common; however, it exists. Causes of non-diabetic hypoglycemia include:

4. How ketones “trick” DUI breath testing devices

Excess ketones are excreted in the urine and breath.13 Because they are chemically similar to isopropyl alcohol (acetone), ketones can fool some California DUI breath testing instruments.14

This is because certain DUI breath testing instruments are not sophisticated enough to distinguish between isopropyl and ethyl alcohol.15 So when someone's body is producing excess ketones, they may test positive on a California DUI breath test… even if they aren't actually drunk… or when they have not been drinking at all.

It is easy to see how a “positive” DUI breath test… combined with the symptoms of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis… could land you in jail.

California Vehicle Code 23152(a) makes it illegal to drive while “under the influence” of alcohol and/or drugs… even if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is under California's legal limit of .08%.16

5. Low-carb diet as a DUI defense

It is important to tell your DUI defense attorney if you have any medical conditions or you are on a diet… even if you think it isn't relevant. An experienced DUI attorney… possibly with the help of a DUI defense expert witness… may be able to use your condition to convince the prosecutor your drunk driving arrest was wrong. This will often lead to the charges being reduced to the less serious charge of reckless driving… or even being dropped altogether.

" Diabetes, hypoglycemia, and Atkins-style diets are just a few things that can mimic DUI. It's my job to make the jury understand that things aren't always what they seem… especially when it comes to a California DUI.”

If you were accused of DUI and think a medical condition or low-carb / high-protein diet could have contributed to your arrest, you don't have to fight the charges alone.

Call us for help…

For more information about California's DUI laws, or to discuss your case confidentially with one of our DUI defense attorneys, please don't hesitate to contact us at Shouse Law Group.

Our California criminal law offices are located in and around Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Jose, Oakland, the San Francisco Bay area, and several nearby cities.

Additionally, our Nevada DUI defense attorneys represent clients accused of violating Nevada’s DUI laws. For more information, we invite you to contact our local attorneys at one of our Nevada law offices, located in Reno and Las Vegas.

15 See same. ("As noted before, isopropyl alcohol is virtually indistinguishable from ethanol in the infrared test chamber of the five-filter Intoxilyzer [California DUI breath testing instrument]. Because the isopropyl alcohol is coming from end expiratory air, as is the ethanol, there is little possibility of triggering the negative slope detector and reporting 'invalid sample.' Most breath test devices will render a cumulative reading of ALL alcohols in the body (ingested and auto-generated).")

16 California Vehicle Code 23152(b) VC. It is unlawful for any person who has 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle.

17 Orange County DUI defense lawyer John Murray has an outstanding record of success defending California DUI clients throughout Southern California. We invite you to contact us to learn more about his impressive resume and service areas.

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